A method for producing a functional lubricant includes mixing particulate sodium polyacrylate alone with water, adding a particulate carbonate which is any one or more of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and calcium carbonate and a particulate carboxylic acid which is any one or more of citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic acid to the water containing the sodium polyacrylate to produce carbon dioxide, and allowing the sodium polyacrylate to disperse without stirring the water to produce a functional lubricant containing the sodium polyacrylate serving as a sole lubricant base. The weight ratio of the sodium polyacrylate to the carbonate and to the carboxylic acid is from 5:1:1 to 8:1:1.
